Muzzle-protector.



Witnessesl f D .ff f.

Y No.. 799,125. PATBNTED SEPT. l2, 1905.

' J. L. WHINBRY.

MUZZLE PROTECTOR.

APPLIoATlon FILED AUG. 11. 19011.

nventor IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

muzzLE-PRoTEoToR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed August 11, 1904. Serial No. 220,419.

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JAMES L. VVHINERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Muzzle-Protector, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to muzzle-protectors, and has for its object improvements in devices adapted to be inserted into a gun-muzzle to center the cleaning-rod, and thus obviate any injury to the rifling of the gun-barrel resulting from the friction of the cleaning-rod thereagainst.

For clearness of illustration the device is shown in connection with an ordinary cleaning-rod, although it is understood that I do not limit myself to the particular type of rod shown, as the device is equally Well adapted to be used in connection with any cleaningrod of ordinary construction whether said rod be of wood or metal and plain, or provided With spirals or cleaning-brushes.

In the appended drawings, as above stated, Figure l shows a perspective view of the device attached to a cleaning-rod. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of the device inserted into the muzzle of a gun and having a cleaningrod in place therein, the device and gun-muzzle being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the device with the cleaningrod removed therefrom.

Referring in detail to said drawings, the device, which may be made of thin sheet metal or other suitable material, consists of a tube l and a plate 2, said plate being preferably circular in form, as shown, and of a diameter approximately equal to that of the gun-barrel, while the diameter of the tube is slightly less than that of the bore of the gun. In the present instance the tube 1 and plate 2 are formed integral, the, metal comprising said tube being drawn out from that comprising the plate, although this is not essential to my construction, as the two parts may be separately formed and united by solder or by any other preferred means. The tube is preferably incased in a jacket or covering of rubber, felt, or other soft yieldable material 2, so as to prevent the walls of saidtube from coming in contact with the bore of the gun and scratching o r otherwise mutilating the same. The end of the tube is preferably slotted, as at 3, and the spring -jaws 4 4, formed thereby, are bent slightly inward, as at 5, so as to act as clamps and prevent the protector from slipping off the rod 6. To further this construction, the rod 6 is slightly cut away at its lower end at 7 to form a shoulder 8, extending entirely around said rod, the

jaws 4 of the tube contracting when reaching j the reduced portion of the rod, owing to their spring clamping action. This peculiar construction of the rod 6, however, is by no means essential, as my protector is adapted to be used with any type of cleaner-rod, as hereinbefore stated, owing to the formation of the jaws 4, which, as stated, have suicient clamping action to prevent the device from slipping off the rod. The cleaning-rod is thus accurately centered within the gun-barrel, due to the clamping action of the jaws 4, and all danger to the riiiing prevented, owing to the moveyment of the rod in an absolutely straight line and out of contact with said riliing.

In use the cleaning-cloth is placed on the end of the rod and pushed down two or three inches into the gun-barrel and the device then inserted in the muzzle. The rod is then inserted through the tube of the device and owing to the spring-jaws thereon is accurately centered, so as to advance and retreat in a perfectly straight line. It is understood, of course, that the plate 2 rests against the muzzle of the gun to prevent any movement of the device when in place therein.

The device, which may be used in connection with guns, revolvers, and firearms of all kinds, is susceptible of slight modifications and changes within the scope of the invention, and I therefore do not intend to limit myself tothe details shown and described.

IHaving thus described the invention, what l is claimed is- 1. A protector for firearms comprising a centering-tube adapted to be inserted in the muzzle of the firearm, and a yieldable jacket surrounding said tube.

2. A protector for firearms comprising a tube of uniform width adapted to be inserted in the muzzle of the firearm, means carried by the tube for centering a cleaning-rod, and a yieldable jacket surrounding said tube.

3. A device of the kind specified comprising a plate having a centering-tube secured thereto and adapted to be inserted into a gunmuzzle, said tube being provided with terminal spring clamping-jaws.

4. A device of the kind specified comprising a plate having a tube secured thereto and adapted to be inserted into a gun -inuzzle, there being a slot in the free end of said tube IOO IIC

defining a pair of spring-jaws the ends of which are bent inwardly to form terminal clamps.

5. A device of the kind specified Comprising a. metallic plate and tube stamped from a single piece ot' sheet metdl1 said tube being adapted to be inserted into 2L gun-muzzle with the plate bearing aga-inst the end of the latter, there beingl a slot in the free end of the tube defininga pair of terminal Spring elamp- IO ing-jaws.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my-signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. VHINERY.

Witnesses:

S. M. GAUSE, I`. I). MARSH. 

